Guilty Gear X2, also known as and subtitled The Midnight Carnival in Japan, is a fighting game developed by Arc System Works and published by Sammy Studios. The third main installment of the Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear X2 furthered the plot of the series, as well as introduced new characters and gameplay mechanics. A sequel to Guilty Gear X, it was announced in January 2002, and was released on May 23, 2002, for the arcades. It was later ported to the PlayStation 2 and published in North America and Europe. The PlayStation 2 version of Guilty Gear X2 sold well in Japan; over 140,000 copies were sold between 2002 and 2004. In addition to the public reception, the game has been praised by video game critics. Several aspects were commended, the most noticeable being its gameplay, visuals, music, and new additions from Guilty Gear X. Some called it the best title of the series, of the year, and even one of the best fighting games of all time. Since its release, it has received five updated versions, each offering additional features over the previous versions. Gameplay The fighting system works around a four attack button configuration, consisting of punch, kick, slash, and heavy slash. Additional buttons allow the player to perform taunts, and throw enemies in the air. When a character causes damage or moves toward its adversary, a tension gauge charges. However, when a character moves backwards or uses defensive moves often, its tension gauge is reduced. Once a character's gauge is filled super moves called Overdrive Attacks, or a variety of special techniques—"Instant Kill", "Faultless Defense," "Dead Angle Attacks" or "Roman Cancels"—can be performed. Guilty Gear X2 adds a new feature to the series: a burst gauge, which is filled as the player causes or receives damage. By pressing buttons in combination, the player character jump and unleash a blast of energy—a Psyche Burst. It allows the player to break combinations and super moves in the middle of the opponent's offensive. Also, when used under specific conditions, if the blast hits the adversary, the tension gauge is filled to its maximum capacity immediately. Guilty Gear X2 offers eight modes: Arcade, Survival, M.O.M. (an acronym for Medal of Millionaires), Mission, Story, Training, Versus 2P and Versus CPU. The Arcade Mode allows the player to fight against several enemies until reach the final fight against the boss. On the